Become a Solo Filmmaker in 12 Weeks
Learn the technical skill set and visual storytelling essentials that’ll take you from enthusiastic beginner to bona-fide solo filmmaker.
Watch the Video for Full Program Details
The next session of the 12-WEEK SELF-STUDY PROGRAM will open in January 2021.
The next session of the 6-MONTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM will open in Spring of 2021.
The core skill-building lessons and projects that make up The Epic Journey Online Filmmaking Course can be done in 12 to 24 weeks. There’s no right or wrong approach in terms of how long you take on each lesson.
The 6-month mentorship program supports you as you go through the skill-building lessons and projects at your own pace.
While you could certainly complete the course in 12 intense weeks, you’re invited to go at your own pace.
Enrollment is Closed
Put your details below to find out when the next sessions open!
Take Your Filmmaking Skill Set Further
with the 6 Month Mentorship Program
This mentorship program is for committed creatives who want to accelerate their learning.
You’ll be getting supportive and corrective feedback from an industry professional while sharing your journey with a small group of like-minded peers.
You get the educational benefits of film school without the long time commitment or six-figure price tag.
Who has time to go to film school?
You’re a busy, successful professional with a secret dream of making online films, but you don’t have time to drop everything and go to film school.
That’s a 2-4 year full-time commitment. Who has time for that? So instead you watch YouTube tutorials, take a bunch of Lynda.com courses, and maybe sign up for a filmmaking membership site.
These resources are all useful, but they don’t help you go from enthusiastic beginner to having all the skills you need to finally make cohesive story-driven online films.
How can you speed up the learning process?
Taking an online solo filmmaking course with a mentorship component will save you thousands of hours.
You won’t have to spend late nights watching YouTube tutorials or haunting the forums, like I did. You won’t have to worry that you’re missing some vital skill.
Even better, you won’t waste time learning things that aren’t relevant to solo filmmakers. Crew-based filmmaking courses are interesting, but much of what you learn in them is irrelevant to a solo filmmaker who needs to get results on the fly.
Become A Solo Filmmaker
In 12 weeks, you’ll have learned all the skills you need to make your first real short film.
Not just a montage of clips. A story-driven cinematic micro film.
You’ll receive one new skill-building lesson and project every week for 12 weeks. But you have the freedom to take your time and go at your own pace.
You’re not locked into a full-time program that dictates your learning schedule.
You can work from home or on-the-go. And the course is designed to be completed in 5 hours per week. You won’t waste time looking things up, feeling confused, or getting lost in a technical black hole. You’ll know that every single skill you’re learning will take you one step closer to your filmmaking goals.
No extra steps. No excessively long tutorials. Just the essentials.
While you can watch a bunch of tutorials or take a few short online courses. to learn filmmaking that way, it takes a long time to learn that way.
It’s a lot easier (and more fun!) to go on your filmmaking journey with a guide.
You’ll learn the skills in a step-by-step way, slowly building your confidence and technical abilities. With this filmmaking course and mentorship program, you'll get more than a bunch of information.
You'll walk away with a skill set that you can take with you anywhere.
Whether you decide to pursue this full-time as a career or simply add it to your creative tool kit is up to you.
Here’s the Deal—
What you can expect:
If you’ve done some online learning in the past, you might be used to hearing big promises and seeing very little results.
This program is different. It’s designed to get you making films right away.
It took over a year to design. And another year to refine. It replicates my filmmaking journey of going from enthusiastic beginner to pro. The course will meet you where you’re at technically—with the gear that you have access to—and elevate your skill set quickly.
Visual Storytelling
There’s a grammar to filmmaking.
If you combine certain shots you’ll be able to create actions sequences that tell a story.
You can learn this from a book — sort of. But what you won’t learn from a book is how to combine these shots to tell a story. And how to make that second nature.
With this training method you’ll start creating shot sequences right away.
As the course progresses your visual storytelling skills will become second nature.
Entertaining Tutorials
How many times have you suffered through a skull-crushingly boring tutorial on YouTube?
Probably too many. It’s tough to enjoy learning and finishing a course when the tutorials keep putting you to sleep.
I’ve worked hard to create up-beat tutorials, so you don’t have to down handfuls of chocolate-covered espresso beans just to stay awake.
Bonus: you’ll actually enjoy the learning process.
No Fancy Gear Required
You’ll need a computer that can power up Adobe Premiere Pro.
You’ll need a camera - any DSLR or mirrorless camera is fine. You can even start this process with an iPhone and upgrade later.
You’ll also need a tripod and an audio recording device — which you’ll be guided on how to buy.
But you don’t need to spend $10,000 on gear to take this course.
You’ll learn how to make films based on skill not fancy gear.
Focused on Solo Filmmaking
Typical film schools are focused on creating good collaborative filmmakers for large-scale productions.
A Hollywood movie can have as many as 700 people on set. Even a short film crew can have as many as 30 people. When you learn collaborative filmmaking, you’re not as well-prepared to shoot something solo.
This course focuses exclusively on solo filmmaking skills. As a shredder (shooter/editor) you need to know how to capture audio, plan a production, come up with a story, and edit your footage. With no outside help.
Focusing on solo filmmaking means you won’t learn a bunch of skills that you’ll never use - this is a huge time saver.
Clear Step-by-step Lessons
A lot of online courses aren’t made by teachers.
They’re made by people with functional skills. So the courses are disorganized and full of confusing lessons. Or they’re just info dumps. Which means a lot of frustration for you the student.
I spent over two years developing this course to make sure it would work. It’s based on proven teaching techniques. (I’m a trained teacher with over 4000 hours of classroom teaching experience.)
This course has clear and detailed step-by-step lessons, so you won’t miss a step or get lost.
By getting rid of confusion, you’re able to focus all your energy on the thing you do best: being creative.
Learn a Production System
Learning the technical and creative aspects of filmmaking is just part of what it means to be a solo filmmaker.
Plenty of people can use a video camera or shoot decent clips on their cell phone. But almost nobody knows how to take a solo filmmaking project from idea to completion. Because that’s not a technical skill - that’s a production skill.
Without a production system, you’ll probably never finish your filmmaking projects. Or if you do, it’ll take months longer than it should. In this course, you’ll learn a production system that’s fail-proof, scalable, and repeatable.
You’ll have the solo production skills necessary to bring any filmmaking project to life.
Think Like A Filmmaker
GAIN A TECHNICAL SKILL SET
Having the essential technical skills will give you the confidence to take on projects that seem like a stretch.
You’ll know that you’re going to get the shots right. You’ll be able to handle lighting a dark room or dealing with harsh sunlight. You’ll be able to set up your audio to capture clean sound even if you’re right next to a highway.
You can read about the technical aspects of filmmaking in a book. There’s ton of information out there. But most of it is directed towards collaborative filmmaking not solo filmmaking.
Every single technical skill you’ll learn in the Epic Journey Solo Filmmaking Course is designed to help you make excellent story-driven micro films by yourself.
What You’ll Get…
The Manual Exposure Cheat Sheet - your key to getting every last drop of goodness out of your camera
How to capture skin tones and lifelike colours even if you’re dealing with weird lighting
Buyer’s Guide for sound recording gear with options for all budgets (from $0 to $1000)
The Stringout Method of video editing that will get even a beginner working quickly
Double Timeline Editing: an advanced technique to speed up your editing
How to edit with Adobe Premiere Pro for total video editing beginners
The two rules of video editing and why you must NEVER break them
The Magic Bin System of clip organization and why it’s so important to your long term success as a video editor
The Five Star lighting technique and why it will never let you down
Editing shortcuts that’ll cut your editing time in half
How to create a basic shot list which you can work from on the fly
The three basic settings you need to master if you want to build a strong foundation
How to master the first ten seconds of a micro film
How to record interview audio so it’s nice and crisp and clean even if you’re dealing with a noisy background
How the frame rate and shutter speed you shoot in will affect the rhythm of your footage
Why framing an interview the right way will draw your viewer into the story
The two types of light and why shadows are actually more important than light
Colour temperature settings and why this is a game changer for your footage
Light sources, and why paying attention to light bulbs will save your ass
How to light people so they look their best even if they’re having a bad hair day
Make Anything You Want
LEARN HOW TO BE A PRODUCER
Producers are the unsung heroes of the movie business.
Almost nobody (except industry insiders) knows them by name. The irony is that producers are the lifeblood of all filmmaking projects.
Without producers there would be no movies. At all. You can make a documentary without actors. Or shoot the film on an iPhone instead of hiring a camera operator. You can even make a silent film and get rid of the recordist. But you can’t fire the producer
This course teaches you the production skills you need to be your own producer.
A lot of creatives are great at idea generation but not so great at staying organized, keeping a project moving forward, and gathering all the elements needed to create a successful finished film.
This course will teach you a simple production process that means you’ll be able to make anything you want without getting lost or stuck, or never finishing.
What You’ll Get…
The Foolproof Shoot Plan and how to use it make sure you get the story and the shots you need even if you only have a few days (or hours!) to prepare
A production system that has been tested on over 100 video shoots without ever failing
Printable checklists that simplify the video production process from start to finish and prevent you from missing anything or getting lost
How to organize your gear so you use it, and don’t lose it, even if you’re a little scatterbrained
Why planning is your main defence against bad footage
A repeatable production system that can scale up for bigger projects but is simple enough to keep small projects moving forward quickly (no spreadsheets or complex docs!)
Why shot lists will save you from yourself and ensure you’ve got enough footage to edit
How to put your subjects at ease so they bring their best selves to the interview
The Hour of Genius: Choosing the right time of day to do your interviews based on sound, lighting, and your subjects’ ideal schedule
Why “everything matters” is the only framing rule you’ll ever need
How to choose your interview location to maximize production values
Capture and Hold Attention
LEARN VISUAL STORYTELLING
Everything you do as a solo filmmaker is in service of the story.
The story is your master, and you are its faithful servant.
But what is storytelling anyway? How do you tell a compelling story? How do you craft a story out of interview footage and action sequences? That’s what this course teaches you.
From using shot sequences to digging into character psychology, you’ll be guided on a journey that will deepen your storytelling skills.
You might have a background in journalism or acting or creative writing, but how do you apply that knowledge to a micro film? Or you might have no storytelling experience at all. It doesn’t matter.
This story journey will get you where you need to be so you can start telling stories that capture and keep attention.
What You’ll Get…
The Hero’s Journey story structure analysis method for micro films
How to keep your viewers’ attention through careful shot selection
The Power Triangle of moving pictures and how to leverage it to make better micro films
Why motion and emotion are the two most important aspects of powerful filmmaking and how to use them in your own online films
How to find interesting subjects all around you, easily and without stress
The key elements of online storytelling and why the way your audience consumes the story matters more than anything else
How big-screen shooting and small-screen shooting styles differ
The one thing actors can teach filmmakers about storytelling
How to use the power of visual desire to create your shot list even if you leave it until the last minute
The three main shots used in micro filmmaking and why they’re vital for online viewing
Using your inner toddler to judge your footage and why this’ll make your edit tighter
How to use lighting to create a mood and tell a story
Why everything in your micro film has to be motivated by the story and how to apply that practically
What Are My Students Saying?
“Very easy to follow as a beginner student.”
I’m loving this course!
I love the way you have broken the editing up into thirds, and the way you’re pacing the content through the lessons.
It makes it so much easier to digest everything and learn how each piece fits together. I'm finding it a lot of fun to dig into Adobe Premiere. I'm literally just following your instructions step-by-step and finding for the first time ever that a video editing program is making sense.
I've been really into working with the manual settings and tried out a bunch of different videos over the past couple of weeks. Your explanation about the Exposure Triangle really made sense and for the first time in my life I think I'm finally grasping these concepts! So kudos to your teaching. :)
Awesome videos, btw. So helpful and very easy to follow as a beginner student. I'm just going to have to keep revisiting them until the process feels natural. It's also really helpful to have both the video and the pdf script.
I LOVE your sound guide. Seriously. It's funny, entertaining, helpful and informative all at the same time. And trust me, I've watched a lot of sound gear/what to buy guides over the years and "entertaining" is not a word I would use to describe these types of videos.
I appreciate how you broke everything down really clearly and also laid out different options for people with different budgets in the Sound Gear Buyer’s Guide.
I'll be coming back to this guide to continue to learn from it the more I feel ready to step up my game!
-Faye M.
Faye (and her cat) talk about the experience of going through the Solo Filmmaking Program
“I didn't have the time or the money to enroll in film school.”
What often stopped me from studying filmmaking was that it seemed like there were so many different tools and techniques that go into filmmaking, such as cameras, lighting, sound, and editing that I felt overwhelmed.
I decided to take this filmmaking program because I was beginning to make short films at my work, but really had no idea what I was doing.
I was learning bits and pieces here and there on the internet, but I needed more structure to my learning.
I didn't have the time or the money to enroll in film school.
This program seemed like a good fit for me, the way it was structured. I could learn online at a reasonable pace. The course is full of common-sense approaches and taught in a language I could understand. The course is both personable and professional.
The entire filmmaking course is fantastic. But what was most useful for me was the insightful feedback and positive encouragement that would come after I was finished a project.
I also loved the tone of the teaching. It's funny and personable and at the same time practical and professional. I really like having both the text to read through alongside the video and audio instructions.
This course saved me time compared to what it would’ve taken to learn this on YouTube.
Looking for the right tutorials on YouTube can be time-consuming and filled with distractions. YouTube can't teach you a course on filmmaking that is put together in a cohesive and comprehensive way and then follow it up with feedback specific to your learning needs.
Because of this course I was able to assist in the planning and shooting stages of some filmmaking projects where I work as well as fully edit some videos. I am beginning to create tutorials for a YouTube channel that I started as a side project for myself.
It’s hard to articulate this stuff, but I really appreciate your teaching and mentoring this last year.
I know that I would not have been able to just pick this stuff up just by watching some tutorials on Lynda.com or YouTube etc.
I really appreciate how much thought you put into the course, how you structured it, and the mentoring feedback loop woven into the assignments.
-Wade B.
Your Final Project
What’s the end game?
Wondering what kind of films you’ll be able to make by the end of the course?
Check out the example below. Faye decided to create a short documentary about a music studio that’s an important part of her community.
As part of this program, you’ll complete a full story-based online short film that will become the cornerstone of your portfolio. You’ll be able to use this piece to grow your filmmaking dreams and pursue further filmmaking opportunities.
Faye’s Final Video
Who’s Your Teacher?
Hey there! I’m Colette.
I’ve been making micro films since 2013.
Technically I started learning filmmaking when I was in high school. I took a two year “Film and TV” class, which was basically an example of the blind leading the blind. Most of our projects never saw the light of day.
But in 2013, I bought a DSLR and started teaching myself filmmaking.
Going to film school wasn’t an option. I didn’t want to go back to school full time. Nor did I want to spend hours learning a bunch of theory. So I got to work teaching myself solo filmmaking.
I made 25 short videos in the span of a year, improving with each one.
My goal was to start a business once my work was good enough. The going was rough. I made a lot of crappy videos.
I spent a lot of time doing things wrong. I spent too many hours watching YouTube videos that made me feel like an idiot.
But I stuck with it, and eventually my work improved.
In 2015, I launched my business, Story Envelope Media, and started producing brand videos and promo videos. Over the next few years I grew my skillset and my business. I went from charging $250 for a video to $15,000+ per project.
In 2018, I became a full-time creative, running my own business as a filmmaker and story strategist.
I LOVE the online filmmaking space, and my goal is to help you gain a solo filmmaking skill set that will help you achieve your goals and dreams in this online space.
Whether you want to take this as a jumping off point to eventually become a big-screen director or you just have some personal projects you’re itching to make, this course is designed to help.
You’ll also see a lot of my husband Jimmy inside this course because he’s my number one subject.
Every filmmaker ends up with someone in their life who gets filmed, well, all the time! He’s also the behind-the-scenes genius who makes sure I keep moving ahead with everything. He may even drop in for a cameo on production. He worked in production for large-scale concerts for over 10 years, so he knows a thing or two about artist-wrangling and cable management.
In case you’re new to me, here’s a couple pieces that I’ve done over the past few years.
Examples of My Solo Filmmaking Projects
MICRO DOC + BRAND VIDEOS
This video about June Hunter is what made me believe that I was a legit online filmmaker.
ELEGANT INTERVIEWS
This is another piece I’m proud of because I managed to create this piece in under 4 weeks from client call to completion. It was a fast and furious process.
STOP MOTION ADVERT
This is one of the videos I’m most proud of because it was such a stretch to pull it off.
MY FIRST BIG CLIENT VIDEO
This is the first client video I did where I charged “real money.” This Financial Advisor flew from Texas to Vancouver to have a video made by me. That’s when I felt I’d “made it.”
What I create, and what you’re going to create won’t be the same. You’ll develop your own style and choose the subject-matter that appeals to you.
I can’t wait to see what you create!
FILMMAKING WORDS TO LIVE BY:
“The only safe thing is to take a chance.”
– Mike Nichols
What’s Inside?
Video Tutorials
There are video tutorials for every technical aspect in the course. You’ll get a complete suite of tutorials that will teach you video editing one step at a time. You’ll also get video tutorials for lighting and audio techniques. And a filmmaking course wouldn’t be complete without a video guide that encourages you along the way. Each lesson opens with a video that helps you navigate your current learning curve.
Audio Lessons
Everyone learns differently. For some people reading works best. While for others listening is more effective. You might like to do both. You’ll get the main lesson as an MP3 which you can download or listen to online. This is in addition to the pdf.
Printable pdfs
Every week you’ll get a lesson and an assignment. These are in separate printable pdfs so you can easily access what you need. The beauty of pdfs instead of books is that you can include as many colourful pictures as you like! I’ve tried to make every pdf as enjoyable to read as possible - full of lots of examples to help you learn.
Plus cheat sheets, checklists, and video motivation
Why Do the Mentorship Program?
Self-Study v.s. Mentorship
The Epic Journey Solo Filmmaking Course will also be offered on its own without a mentorship component in January of 2021.
It will continue to be available 1-2x per year in this self-study format. So why bother going for the mentorship program? Why not just do the self-study?
The Solo Filmmaking Mentorship Program is for creatives who want to save time, see results more quickly, and have the support of a professional.
If you want to accelerate your learning journey and get a skill set much more quickly this program is for you.
If you thrive on having a support system in place and getting encouragement, support, and both positive and corrective feedback this is for you.
Going it alone is totally fine. But having a coach who is deeply invested in your success is invaluable.
I’m not sure if I’ll be offering this Mentorship Program every single year. So if you’re committed to learning solo filmmaking and turning it into one of your main creative tools and even your profession, then I do recommend going for this now.
But if you’re more in dipping-your-toes-in-the-water mode and you’re not committed to this journey long-term, wait and go the self-study route.
What’s Included?
6-Month Mentorship Program Details
The 12-Week Epic Journey Online Filmmaking Course
This is a comprehensive 12-week course designed to help you ladder up from enthusiastic beginner to solo filmmaking pro. The course has 12 Lessons plus a Prep Week. For the final project you’ll be completing a full story-based micro film that you can use to start building your portfolio and sharing your work while refining your filmmaking skill set.
6 Written Feedback Reports to Accelerate Your Growth | 1 per month
These reports will become your best friends. You’ll review them and refer back to them often. They will accelerate your growth, help you fix technical issues, and push you forward on your filmmaking journey. These Feedback Reports are intense. I’m OCD about helping my students. They’ll help you identify strengths and weaknesses, so you can improve more quickly. You’ll get one Feedback Report per month for 6 months. But please note: these must be used monthly and cannot be rolled over into the next month.
Live Office Hours Drop-In Calls via Zoom | 2 per month
(2x per month for 6 Months)
These live Office Hours calls are to provide you with ongoing support and a way to casually drop in and ask questions, discuss your projects, get more feedback, and learn from your peers. There are two live Office Hours calls per month. You’ll get the Zoom Link in advance so you can join in. Each call is open for 60-minutes. So you’ll have plenty of time to ask your questions and get more feedback. These calls are live only and won’t be recorded.
Premium Bonuses
One-on-One Coaching Session
Sometimes we all need to be coached.
The final project for this course is your first ever legit online micro film. You’ll be making a story-driven film that will be your first real portfolio piece. You can use this to help promote a cause or business you care about, tell a story that matters to you, build your audience, or just gain directing experience.
But, there are plenty of pitfalls when creating your first big project. Having a one-on-one coaching session can prevent you a lot of pain and help you clarify your intentions and story.
One 60-minute one-on-one coaching session
Intermediate Lighting Course
The main content of the course teaches you 5-point lighting.
You’ll learn about soft light and hard light. But lighting is one of the areas that many filmmakers struggle with. That’s why I’ve decided to create an additional lighting course.
This Intermediate Lighting Course will be available to you by February 2021. It will cover lighting in depth so you can feel more confident when you’re buying or renting lights and designing your lighting set ups.
6 Advanced Live Training Sessions
You’ll get additional advanced live training above and beyond the 12-Week Filmmaking Course. This training will help you prevent problems and fix common mistakes and issues that new filmmakers usually experience when out in the field. There is one Advanced Live Training Session per month for 6 months. If you can’t make it live, you’ll get online access to the Playback Video. Each session will be followed by a chance for you to ask questions to go deeper into the material. These training sessions are 60-minutes in length.
Timeline and Schedule
Official Start: Sept 14th, 2020
You’ll get the Prep Week Lesson as soon as you are enrolled. After that you’ll get one new lesson every week for 12 weeks. The lesson link will be delivered to you via email every Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.
+ Click here for Full Live Training Schedule >
All times are in Eastern Standard Time
Live Training Schedule
All live trainings are at 7 p.m. EST on Zoom. They will all be recorded. All sessions are on Wednesdays.
- September 30 at 7 p.m. EST
- October 28 at 7 p.m. EST
- November 25 at 7 p.m. EST
- December 30 at 7 p.m. EST
- January 27 at 7 p.m. EST
- February 24 at 7 p.m. EST
Office Hours Schedule
Office Hours are held every two weeks from September 22 to March 2. These are informal Zoom gatherings where you can ask your questions. They will not be recorded. All sessions are on Tuesdays.
- September 22 at 1 p.m. EST
- October 6 at 1 p.m. EST
- October 20 at 1 p.m. EST
- November 3 at 1 p.m. EST
- November 17 at 1 p.m. EST
- December 1 at 1 p.m. EST
- December 15 at 1 p.m. EST
- January 5 at 1 p.m. EST
- January 19 at 1 p.m. EST
- February 2 at 1 p.m. EST
- February 16 at 1 p.m. EST
- March 2 at 1 p.m. EST
FILMMAKING WORDS TO LIVE BY:
“Stop asking. Start doing..”
― Ava DuVernay
What This Program Is About
This program is about helping you become a proficient solo filmmaker, so you can have the creative freedom to make anything you want.
The end goal is for you to have your first legit portfolio piece: an online micro film that tells a story.
You’ll get there through project-based learning.
1) Learn a solo filmmaking skill set.
You’ll gain a solo filmmaking skill set from this course.
You’ll learn the production basics, visual storytelling, lighting, framing, sound recording, video editing, and storytelling skills necessary to make films by yourself. Solo. No crew. Just you and your gear.
2) Learn on your own, with feedback from your teacher, and via group lessons.
You’ll be doing a lot of learning on your own.
This is a self-study course combined with the support of mentorship and live mentorship and trainings. If you love independent learning and hate being slowed down by others, this is for you! If you also like getting support, useful feedback, and encouragement, this is also for you.
3) Learn by doing projects.
There’s only one way to learn filmmaking: by doing it.
You can’t just watch video and lectures and learn it. So this course is totally focused on getting you out there, in the field, making videos, every single week. You shoot and then you edit. Rinse and repeat. Each week we build on your skills until suddenly you’re doing it all.
What This Program Isn’t About
This course isn’t going to teach you absolutely everything about filmmaking.
It’s also not going to waste your time with stuff you don’t need to know.
Filmmaking is something you commit to learning for the rest of your life. But in six months, you can go from solo filmmaking beginner to pro. However, you do that by mastering the basics and forgetting about the rest of it.
You won’t learn fancy gimbal moves or be forced into buying a drone.
That’s not going to make you a good filmmaker.
First, you learn the basics. Then you branch off on your own and develop high-level techniques that suit your style and interests.
1) This isn't a viral video course.
I’m not going to be talking about YouTube or how to get a million views. I’ve got one YouTube video with 250,000 views. It’s not very good. And it doesn’t serve my business or help me build an audience. If you want to learn about YouTube growth or viral video creation let me know. I can refer you to other courses from other creators. BUT if you want to learn classic solo filmmaking skills that you can apply to make any story come to life, then this course will make you very happy.
2) It's not a course where you’ll learn crew-based filmmaking.
Crew-based filmmaking is what nearly every online course teaches.
If you want to immediately start directing short films with a crew, then this course isn’t for you. I teach solo filmmaking because I believe it’s the most fun, fast, and incredible way to learn filmmaking and turn it into your form of creative expression and even a business. It’s also a fantastic way to train yourself to become a big-screen film director.
3) It's not a special effects course.
You're not going to learn how to blow things up or do crazy stunts or animated tricks. There will be no fake blood or trick shots or fancy camera moves. First you must master the basics, then you can go crazy with special effects.
Not sure if this program is for you?
Send me an email: colette@storyenvelopeacademy.org
Let me know your backstory and questions, and I’ll help you figure it out.
Why This Program?
What’s Unique About This Program?
You’ll actually walk away with a skill set.
Unlike every course I’ve ever seen on Udemy or Lynda.com, this isn’t an info dump.
This is a practical course with step-by-step instructions that’ll take you from beginner to bona-fide solo filmmaker.
In order to get there you need to practice, practice, practice. Your goal should be to make your filmmaking skills come naturally. Like second nature.
This course is built around the philosophy that in order to learn solo filmmaking you need to combine excellent education with practice.
FAQ
+ Will I learn viral video making?
Nope. While you might be able to tackle viral videomaking after you take this course. It’s not a core content component. You’ll learn timeless filmmaking skills that you can apply to shorts, features, brand videos, and anything else.
+ Will this teach me how to create a successful YouTube Channel?
This isn’t a YouTube course. You’ll learn timeless filmmaking skills. You can then apply that skill set to making a YouTube Channel if you choose. And you can also ask me about video SEO and marketing. But there is no core content specific to YouTube’s algorithm.
+ Will I be able to do this professionally after I take your course?
Yes! You can start your own business, build your portfolio more, go after a new job, or apply these skills in your current job. No matter where you go with this, you’ll have a valuable skill set. But, this course isn’t a ticket to getting hired on a crew-based film set. Anyone can get a job as a Production Assistant. So you can do that while taking this course if you want on-set experience.
+ Do I need a DSLR or other “good” camera in order to take your course?
While you don’t need a good or great camera, I do recommend that you have a DSLR or Mirrorless camera that you can access. Whether it’s yours, a friends, your work’s camera or otherwise, you’ll have more fun if you can mess around with manual exposure and lenses.
+ Will I need to buy a lot of gear to take this course?
Not at all. But you will need to make some small investments or reach out to your network. You’ll need to make sure you get a cheap tripod and a subscription to Adobe Premiere Pro. And you’ll likely want to eventually invest in some sound gear. The Sound Gear Buyer’s Guide will help you decide what to buy what to get. You can also opt to use your cell phone as your recording device to get started.
+ How does the program work?
You’ll get a new lesson and assignment each week for 12 weeks. You’ll also get Live Bonus Lessons and Access to the Q&A and Office Hours. Expect to spend 3 to 5 hours per week learning solo filmmaking!
+ Will I get all the content right away?
No, you’ll get the first prep lesson right away. Then you’ll get a new lesson and assignment each week. The Lighting Bonus will be delivered in February.
Happy Filmmaker Guarantee
7-Day No-Questions-Asked Refunds
What if this course isn’t actually right for you?
If you join the Mentorship Program and within the first 7 days after you make your purchase experience that dreaded feeling of extreme buyer’s regret and decide it’s not for you, then you’ll get a full refund no questions asked.
You’ll have 7-days from purchase to get a refund.
After that, you’re all in my friend! This program has limited spots. So please only go for it if you’re fully committed to learning solo filmmaking and making it a part of your creative life over the long-term.
This is a serious program that will give you serious results.
I don’t want to be harsh, but learning filmmaking isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s not for dabblers. You must have a passion for it and a long-term interest.
If you’re committed to this process and you do the projects and follow the lessons, you WILL gain a filmmaking skill set. Without a doubt, I can tell you that this process is foolproof. If you do the work, you’ll get the skill set.
Pricing
The Solo Filmmaking Mentorship Program
Limited Spaces Available
Enrollment will Open in 2021
Your Success
I want to make sure you’re successful.
That’s why there will be so many opportunities to get feedback and mentorship from me within this program.
If you’ve taken online courses before you know there’s usually minimal connection with the teacher and very little feedback. That’s not the case with this mentorship program.
Having access to me is the best way I can ensure you’re on the right track.
If you’re ready to accelerate your learning and start improving your filmmaking skill set then this is the program for you.
One last thing: I’m not sure if I’ll run this Mentorship Program every single year, so I figure let’s go all out with it!
If you decide to wait, you’ll have a chance to take the Solo Filmmaking Course in January, but it will be formatted as more of a self-study program.
IMPORTANT DETAILS
You'll get an email with instant access to the Prep Week Course Materials as soon as you complete the purchase. After you make your payment, check your email account to get your login info.
The Course Officially Starts on September 14th. You’ll receive your first lesson via email at 6 pm on Sunday September 13th.
If you have any questions that haven’t been answered, please email me: colette@storyenvelopeacademy.org I’d be happy to help you decide if this course is the right fit for you. No pressure tactics, obviously. This is a big commitment, so I’m just here to answer your questions and help you make the right decision.
As always, thank you for being here and reading to the end!
You rule!
xo
Colette
Colette Nichol, Story Envelope Media
P.S. If you’ve read this far, this course is for you! There are only two things you need to learn the art of solo filmmaking: the willingness to roll up your sleeves and a good educator who’s got your back. So get in there and start learning!
This course will be provided to you by Story Envelope Media (2170 West 3rd Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada)
